Vaginal syringe package including a supply of disposable dispensing containers and integral means for storing same

ABSTRACT

A two part housing that is small enough to be carried in a woman&#39;&#39;s handbag contains a plurality of compactly folded, disposable, concentrated-medicament-containing, thin-walled, flexible, limp plastic bags. The housing also contains a hollow elongated bone having a plurality of orifices at the distal end thereof. The concentrated medicament can dissolve or disperse in water. The housing further contains a viscous germicidal mass in which the bone is stored when not in use.

United States Patent Hart 1 Sept. 26, 1972 [54] VAGINAL SYRINGE PACKAGEINCLUDING A SUPPLY OF DISPOSABLE DISPENSING CONTAINERS AND INTEGRALMEANS FOR STORING SAME [72] Inventor: Stephen N. Hart, Belleville, NJ.

[73] Assignee: Fancort Industries, Inc., New York,

['22] Filed: Nov. 16, 1970 [21] Appl. N0.: 89,864

[52] US. Cl ..206/l7.5, 128/232 [51] Int. Cl. ..B65d 85/54, A6lm 7/02[58] Field of Search "206/175, 63.2; 128/232 [56] References CitedUNITED STATES PATENTS 2,492,326 12/1949 Scotti ..206/17.5

3,474,788 10/1969 Corbin et a1. 128/232 X 2,664,893 1/1954 Kempel128/232 1,799,059. 3/1931 Naylor ..206/63.2 R 2,784,716 3/1957 Broman..128/227 Primary Examiner-Leonard Summer Att0rneyl(irschstein,Kirschstein, Ottinger & Frank 5 7] ABSTRACT A two part housing that issmall enough to be carried in a woman's handbag contains a plurality ofcompactly folded, disposable, concentrated-medicamentcontaining,thin-walled, flexible, limp plastic bags. The housing also contains ahollow elongated bone having a plurality of orifices at the distal endthereof.-The concentrated medicament can dissolve or disperse in water.The housing further contains a viscous germicidal mass in which the boneis stored when not in use.

14 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures P'ATENTEflstrzs I972 3.693 783 INVENTORSTEPHEN N. HART FIG. 5 Q%* -4 ATTORNEYS VAGINAL SYRINGE PACKAGEINCLUDING A SUPPLY OF DISPOSABLE DISPENSING CONTAINERS AND INTEGRALMEANS FOR STORING SAME BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of theInvention This invention relates generally to vaginal syringes and moreparticularly to a vaginal syringe package having a plurality ofdisposable compactly folded dispensing bags.

2. Description of the Prior Art There are many products presently on themarket that are intended for feminine hygiene. Syringes or douches inthis category have, generally speaking, been rather bulky and have beenprimarily intended for use in the home so that they could be stored awaywhen not needed. There are also many disposable syringes that areavailable in the prior art and which are intended for single usage only,after which either all or a portion of the syringe is discarded.

The prior art structure presently available suffers severaldisadvantages. As mentioned above many of the prior art structures arebulky and therefore inconvenient to carry in a womans handbag. Generallyspeaking the disposable products in this art permit only a single usage.That is, the entire package can only be used once. This necessitatesunnecessary costs, and in addition, requires frequent purchasing.Finally, none of the products presently available lend themselves to anattractive package that may be carried by a woman in her handbag withoutfear of embarrassment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an attractive,twopart molded plastic housing which contains a supply offluid-impervious, disposable dispensing containers as well as a singleapplicator bone stored when idle in a viscous germicidal mass and meansfor cleansing the surface of the bone as it is placed into and withdrawnfrom the mass. A dry or concentrated liquid germicidal medicament thatcan be dissolved or dispersed in water is packaged with each containerthe same being diluted to proper strength for use by the addition ofwater. The plurality of containers are compactly folded and are disposedwithin the housing in a magazine that also serves to support the bone atan end thereof.

In its broadest aspect, the present invention provides a housing in twoparts that are coupled to each other, by a telescoping fit for example.A barrier member formed in one of the housing sections defines amagazine for storing a plurality of thin plastic disposable compactlyfolded bags which may include germicidal material. Each bag has a mouthwith a strippable seal thereon. Means is also provided for lockinglycoupling each of the bags to an elongated, hollow bone that isperforated at its distal end and is stored in a viscous germicidal mass.To use the present invention the housing sections are separated, thebone is removed by moving it axially through the cleansing wiper and asingle folded bag is removed from its enclosure and the seal is opened.The germicidal medicament in the bag is then activated by the additionof water. The bone is locked to the dispensing bag by means of a discthat is integral with each of the bags and a cooperating, bayonet-typelocking mechanism that is integral with the bone. The disc has a pair ofspaced tabs that engage cam surfaces of the bayonet in a manner suchthat only a half turn is required in order to lock the bone and disctogether.

Accordingly, is it the primary object of the present invention toprovide an improved vaginal syringe package having a plurality ofdisposable dispensing compactly folded bags included therein.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedvaginal syringe as described above, that is contained within anattractive package of a size that may be conveniently carried in awoman's handbag.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide, in asyringe as described above, means for storing a plurality of disposablelimp bags in a normally flat, compacted condition.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a syringe, asdescribed above, that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture andpurchase.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide an improvedvaginal syringe package, as

described above, that minimizes assembly procedures.

both in the manufacture and usage thereof.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedsyringe having means for containing a plurality of disposable bags in ahygienic condition and in a minimum of space.

A further object is to provide an improved vaginal syringe, as describedabove, where only the bags need to be replenished.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improvedvaginal syringe, as described above, wherein concentrated germicidalmaterial is packaged with each container.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedsyringe, as described above, wherein each bag includes its own integrallocking means that cooperates with a locking means integral with thebone.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide animproved syringe, as described above, wherein all of the parts that mayengage a female body or liquids to come in contact therewith aremaintained in hygienic condition when stored in the syringe package.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and in part bepointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combination of elements, and arrangements of parts which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which thescope of application will be indicated in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings, in whichis shown one of the various possible embodiments of the invention:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention with a portion ofthe casing broken away;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal, sectional, elevational view with a portion ofone of the components shown partially in section;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, exploded, elevational view of the bone and itsassociated coupling member;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the bone coupling member;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the coupling member for a bag; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, elevational view, partially in section,illustrating the bone and a liquid filled bag in coupled condition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now in detail to thedrawing, there is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 the improved syringe 10comprising this invention. The syringe 10 includes first and secondplastic cylindrical housing sections 12 and 14, respectively, that aremolded in a conventional manner. As shown particularly in FIG. 2, bothhousing sections 12 and 14 are cup-shaped and housing section 12 isprovided at its open end with a reduced diameter 16 that is adapted tobe telescoped within the open end ofthe housing section 14. The housingsection 12 is further provided with a transverse wall 18 proximate andaxially inward of its open end, the wall 18 having a central bore 20.

A foam rubber cleansing member 21 is seated in the recess defined by thetransverse wall 18 and the inside diameter of the end portion of thehousing section 12. A central opening 22 is provided in the cleansingmember 21. An end cap 24, suitably secured to the extreme end ofthe'housing section 12 by any suitable means such as an adhesive servesto retain the cleansing member 21 in place. For purposes to be describedhereinafter the end cap 24 is provided with a shallow seat 26 and acentral opening 28. The housing section 12 is more than half filled witha viscous mass M such as white petrolatum or a jelly of a mixture ofwater and vegetable gum, e.g., gum arabic, the mass also containing agermicide e.g., Benzalkonium Chloride, a mixture ofalkyldimethylbenzylammonium chlorides of the general formula in which Rrepresents a mixture of the alkyls from CBHI'I to 1s 37- Referringparticularly to FIG. 2 it will be seen that there is provided a rigid,hollow, elongated bone 30 having a plurality of discharge orifices 32near the broad distal end 34 thereof. As is evident from the drawing,the end 34 of the bone 30 has a diameter that is smaller than theopening 20 in the central plate 18. However, the diameter of the end 34is larger than the opening 22 formed in the cleansing member 21. Thuswhen the bone 30 is axially withdrawn in the manner describedhereinbefore, the outside surface thereof will be wiped clean by themember 21 of all but a lubricant film of the germicidal viscous materialin which the bone was stored when not is use.

The bone 30 is supported by a hollow coupling member 36 that is providedwith a reduced diameter, tapered pilot 38 which may be permanently'joined to the bone as with an adhesive, and a transverse seat 40 thefirst of which is adapted to be received in the open, tapered end 41 ofthe bone 30 and the second to limit the insertion of the pilot. Both thebone 30 and the coupling member 36 can be molded of a suitable plasticeither as one piece or as two separate pieces with a snug fit betweenthe pilot 38 and tapered end 41 of the bone 30. The coupling member 36is further provided with a cylindrical portion 42 extending from theseat 40, the cylindrical portion 42 terminating in an enlarged diameter44 adapted to be received in the seat 26 formed. in the end plate 24. Aflange (disc) 45 formed integrally with the coupling member 36 restsagainst the external surface of the transverse wall 24. Finally, thecoupling member 36 is provided with a first axial bore 46 and a second,coaxial bore 48, both of which provide direct communication with theinterior of the bone 30. The second bore 48 is of substantially largerdiameter and is formed within an axially extending post 50.

Barrier means that is preferably in the form of a cup (magazine) 52 isshown positioned in the lowermost part of the second housing section 14and with its open mouth in abutment with the bottom wall thereof todefine an enclosure. The cup 52 includes a central, axially outwardlyextending boss 54 that is adapted to be slidingly received in the secondbore 48 formed in the lower end of the coupling member 36. The cup 52may also be molded in the conventional manner from any suitable plasticmaterial. As shown in FIG. 2, the cup 52 includes a cylindrical sidewall 56 that is arranged to be slidingly received within the insidediameter of the second housing section 14. One end wall 58 is formedintegrally with the side wall 56 and the boss 54. The opposite end ofthe cup is open. The height of the cup is such that the cup fills thespace in the housing section 14 between the post 50 and the end wall 14awhen the two sections are fully interengaged.

A plurality of thin walled, fluid, flexible, limp impervious plasticbags 60 are disposed within the cup 52 each in a compact foldedcondition of such size that it can fit flatly in the cup. Typicallythree to four such bags are designed to fit into the cup. Each of thebags 60 preferably contain a concentrated germicidal compound either inpowder or liquid form, either one of which is rendered sufficientlydilute for vaginal douching by the addition of enough water to fill thebag. The following materials have been found suitable for use as thegermicidal material: Powders-Massengill powder composed of boric acid,ammonium alum, berberine salt, phenol, menthol, isomers, thymol,eucalyptol and methyl salicylate; and Koromex powder composed oflactose, dendritic sodium chloride, lactic acid, urea, menthol, thymol,oil of eucalyptus, methyl salicylate, benzalkonium chloride, andpolyoxyethylenenonylphenol. Liquid Concentrates- Vagisec, composed of abalanced blend of polyoxyethylenenonylphenol, sodium edetate, sodiumdioctyl sulfosuccinate; and Demure, constituting benzethonium chloride.

A bag 60 when opened contains about a quart of liquid. The germicidalmaterial is present in an amount sufficient to exercise both agermicidal and a spermicidal effect when so diluted and to be at a pHwhen so diluted which is not harmful to the vaginal walls, all of thisbeing well known in the art.

Each of the plastic bags 60 is provided with a plastic locking disc 62sealed e.g., by adhesive or heat and pressure, to the open end thereof.The locking disc 62 includes an annular flange 64 that supports and issealed to the open end of each bag as well as a central 60, specificallythe inturned lip of the mouth of the bag is thus squeezed between theflanges 45 and 64. This arrangement is shown in FIG. 6. Each lockingdisc has a wafer seal 63 overlying its otherwise open mouth to seal thesame and maintain the interior of the bag sterile. The seal is lightlysecured as by adhesive to the disc so that it can be stripped therefromwhen any given bag is to be used.

In order to use the present invention the housing sections 12 and 14 areseparated thereby automatically pulling the bone 30 axially through thecleansing member as described above. The bone 30 is then removed fromthe boss 54 formed on the upper end of the. cup 52 and then, using theboss 54 for gripping purposes, the cup 52 is removed from the secondhousing section 14 and one of the containers 60 is removed and its seal63 is peeled off. The container 60 is filled with water through theopening 66 and the bayonets 70 formed on the coupling member 36 areinserted into the opening 66 formed in the disc 62. The disc 62 and thecoupling member 36 are then rotated relative to each other so that thecam surfaces 72 wedge against the locking tabs 68. The syringe is thenready for use.

It will be evident from the foregoing that an improved, low cost travelsyringe has been provided. All of the components comprising the presentinvention (except the medicament and viscous mass) may be made ofplastic and may be made by conventional and well known techniques. Anattractive two part package that may be decorated externally withlongitudinal ribs and a central band is suitable for carrying in awomans handbag. The package includes a plurality of single usagedisposable sealed sanitary containers each of which may have agermicidal/spermicidal compound therein. A hollow bone which preferablyis rigid and perforated at one end is provided with a part-tum lockingmember that cooperates with a similar locking member formed integrallywith the open end of each container. Thus the syringe package may beused repeatedly and only the containers need replacement after the totalsupply has been depleted.

It thus will be seen that there is provided a device which achieves theseveral objects of the invention and is well adapted to meet theconditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention andas various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, itis to be understood that all matter herein described, and shown in theaccompanying drawing, is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimited sense.

Having now described the invention, there is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent:

1. A vaginal syringe comprising the combination of:

a. a housing including first and second tubular sections and means forloosely longitudinally coupling said sections to each other;

b. barrier means positioned in one of said housing sections for definingan enclosure in combination with a wall of said section;

c. a plurality of compactly folded disposable, thinwalled, flexible,limp fluid-impervious, open ended bags stacked in said enclosure in acompacted condition;

d. an elongated, hollow bone having apertures through the wall thereofproximate the distal end, said bone being removably disposed in saidhousing; and

e. means selectively removable from said housing for detachably lockingthe proximal end of said bone to a bag, a first portion of said lockingmeans being integral with the open end of each said bag, a secondportion of said locking means being integral with the proximal end ofsaid bone whereby a convenient vaginal syringe package including asupply of disposable dispensing containers is provided.

2. The syringe is accordance with claim 1 wherein there is furtherincluded a quantity of concentrated water-dilutable germicidal orspermicidal material within each said bag.

3. The syringe is accordance with claim 2 wherein said germicidal orspermicidal material is a dry powder that is adapted to be activated bythe addition of water.

4. The syringe in accordance with claim 2 wherein said germicidal orspermicidal material is a liquid concentrate that is adapted to beactivated by the addition of water.

5. The syringe in accordance with claim 1 wherein said housing sectionseach include an open end and a transverse end wall, the open ends ofsaid housing sections being in confronting coaxial relationship wherebysaid transverse end walls are axially spaced from each other, one ofsaid open ends having a reduced cross section that is dimensioned to betelescopingly received in the open end of said other housing section.

6. The syringe in accordance with claim 5 wherein said barrier meanscomprises a cup-shaped member nestingly positioned within one of saidhousing sections with the open end of said cup-shaped member being inconfronting relationship with said transverse end wall of said housingsection for defining the enclosure in which said bags are disposed.

7. The syringe is accordance with claim 5 wherein the end wall of saidcup-shaped member further includes an axially extending boss forengaging the proximal end of said bone.

8. The syringe in accordance with claim 1 wherein one of said twoportions of said locking means comprises at least one tab, the otherportion of said locking means comprising at least one bayonet adapted toreleasably engage said tab.

9. The syringe in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first portion ofsaid locking means comprises a disc having a central opening and tabmeans positioned adjacent said opening, said second portion of saidlocking means comprising bayonet means, said tab means and said bayonetmeans releasably engaging each other upon relative rotation of said boneand said container.

10. The syringe in accordance with claim 9 further including cam meansintegral with said locking means whereby a wedging action is providedbetween the engaging surface of said bayonet means and said tab means.

11. The syringe in accordance with claim 1 further including resilientwiping means integral with said housing, said bone extending through anopening in said wiping means whereby when said housing sections areuncoupled said wiping means wipes the outer surface of said bone.

12. The syringe in accordance with claim 11 further including atransverse wall integral with said housing and axially spaced from oneend thereof for supporting said wiping means, said wall having anopening larger than the largest diameter of said bone, the opening ofsaid wiping means being smaller than the largest diameter of said bone.

13. The syringe in accordance with claim 1 further including a mass ofviscous material in the housing in

1. A vaginal syringe comprising the combination of: a. a housingincluding first and second tubular sections and means for looselylongitudinally coupling said sections to each other; b. barrier meanspositioned in one of said housing sections for defining an enclosure incombination with a wall of said section; c. a plurality of compactlyfolded disposable, thin-walled, flexible, limp fluid-impervious, openended bags stacked in said enclosure in a compacted condition; d. anelongated, hollow bone having apertures through the wall thereofproximate the distal end, said bone being removably disposed in saidhousing; and e. means selectively removable from said housing fordetachably locking the proximal end of said bone to a bag, a firstportion of said locking means being integral with the open end of eachsaid bag, a second portion of said locking means being integral with theproximal end of said bone whereby a convenient vaginal syringe packageincluding a supply of disposable dispensing containers is provided. 2.The syringe is accordance with claim 1 wherein there is further includeda quantity of concentrated water-dilutable germicidal or spermicidalmaterial within each said bag.
 3. The syringe is accordance with claim 2wherein said germicidal or spermicidal material is a dry powder that isadapted to be activated by the addition of water.
 4. The syringe inaccordance with claim 2 wherein said germicidal or spermicidal materialis a liquid concentrate that is adapted to be activated by the additionof water.
 5. The syringe in accordance with claim 1 wherein said housingsections each include an open end and a transverse end wall, the openends of said housing sections being in confronting coaxial relationshipwhereby said transverse end walls are axially spaced from each other,one of said open ends having a reduced cross section that is dimensionedto be telescopingly received in the open end of said other housingsection.
 6. The syringe in accordance with claim 5 wherein said barriermeans comprises a cup-shaped member nestingly positioned within one ofsaid housing sections with the open end of said cup-shaped member beingin confronting relationship with said transverse end wall of saidhousing section for defining the enclosure in which said bags aredisposed.
 7. The syringe is accordance with claim 5 wherein the end wallof said cup-shaped member further includes an axially extending boss forengaging the proximal end of said bone.
 8. The syringe in accordancewith claim 1 wherein one of said two portions of said locking meanscomprises at least one tab, the other portion of said locking meanscomprising at least one bayonet adapted to releasably engage said tab.9. The syringe in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first portion ofsaid locking means comprises a disc having a central opening and tabmeans positioned adjacent said opening, said second portion of saidlocking means comprising bayonet means, said tab means and said bayonetmeans releasably engaging each other upon relative rotation of said boneand said container.
 10. The syringe in accordance with claim 9 furtherincluding cam means integral with said locking means whereby a wedgingaction is provided between the engaging surface of said bayonet meansand said tab means.
 11. The syringe in accordance with claim 1 furtherincluding resilient wiping means integral with said housing, said boneextending through an opening in said wiping means whereby when saidhousing sections are uncoupled said wiping means wipes the outer surfaceof said bone.
 12. The syringe in accordance with claim 11 furtherincluding a transverse wall integral with said housing and axiallyspaced from one end thereof for supporting said wiping means, said wallhaving an opening larger than the largest diameter of said bone, theopening of said wiping means being smaller than the largest diameter ofsaid bone.
 13. The syringe in accordance with claim 1 further includinga mass of viscous material in the housing in which the distal end ofsaid bone is lodged when the housing sections are mutually coupled. 14.The syringe in accordance with claim 13 further including resilientwiping means integral with said housing, said bone extending through anopening in said wiping means whereby when said housing sections areuncoupled said wiping means wipes the outer surface of said bone, andwherein the mass of viscous material is lodged between the wiping meansand the end of the section toward which the distal end of the boneextends.